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Polite Bunn^? 




Copjrright 1922 
C. H. Van Vliet Co. 

Chicago 

Printed in United States of America 


^OV \1 1322. 


©014686898 

•u* I 


CONTENTS 


Chapter 1 A Letter From Aunt Etiquette 

Chapter 2 Pretty Bunny's Journey 

Chapter 3. The Bed-Room Bunny 

Chapter 4 Manners At Table 

Chapter 5 Manners In School 

Chapter 6 Shopping Manners 

Chapter 7 Street Manners 

Chapter 8 An On-Time Tale 

Chapter 9 A Pick-It-Up Tale 

Chapter 10 Company Manners 




List of Color Illustrations^ 


Polite Bunny (Frontispiece) 

There Stood Homeless, Happy, Heedless, and 

Healthy Bunny 56 

They Had Ice Cream and Cake 96 

‘‘Here I Am, the Gk)od Luck Bunny.” 120 


t * . 






POLITE BUNNY 




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CHAPTER!. 


A LETTER FROM AUNT 
ETIQUETTE 

This is the tale of Pretty Bunny, 

And though her story is very funny, 

To read it you will not regret 
When you meet old Aunt Etiquette! 

Pretty Bunny Manners lived with Old 
Father and Mother Bun, in a little wee 
house in the woods. 

As soon as she woke one morning she 
called to her brother. Healthy Bunny, 

“Pretty Bunny gives fair warning. 

She will always call, ‘Good morning’.” 

Healthy Bunny often forgot to say 
“Good morning,” and be polite, so Pretty 
Bunny continued, “I will make up a 
‘Good Morning Song’,” so she wrote on a 
card some words for Healthy Bunny to 
learn, and soon they sang to the tune 
of “Twinkle Little Star,” 


9 


10 


POLITE BUNNY 


“Say ‘Good Morning’ when you wake, 
Be polite, make no mistake. 

And when friends you chance to meet. 
Say ‘Good Morning’ on the street.” 

They took so long learning the song 
that Old Father Bun cried, 

“Hurry your dressing, I don’t like to 
scold. 

But your coffee will all be cold.” 

Old Mother Bun said, 

“Hurry up. Bunnies, as like as not. 

Your oat-meal will get too hot.” 

The Bunnies laughed and, 

Hippety-hop with never a care. 

They came dancing down the stairs. 

They said ‘Good Morning’ to Old Father 
and Mother Bun and began to eat 
breakfast. 

At this very minute the Postman 
came “pitter, patter, rap-a-tap,” and left 


POLITE BUNNY 


11 


some letters in the mail-box; among 
them was a certain pink envelope ad- 
dressed to Old Father Bun. 

Pretty Bunny went to get the letters 
and came dancing in, handing them to 
Old Father Bun. 

As luck would have it, Old Father Bun 
took up the pink envelope first and 
looked at it closely through his horn- 
rimmed spectacles. 

He said, 

“This handwriting Fve seen before. 
Two or four times, six or more.” 

Old Mother Bun remarked, as he 
passed her the letter, 

“Whom can it be from, how can we tell? 
I think I know that handwriting well.” 

Healthy Bunny got up and peeped 
over her shoulder, saying. 


12 


POLITE BUNNY 


“This letter’s addressed to Father Bun; 
It was not meant for every one.” 

Pretty Bunny asked politely, 

“Let’s open the letter, then we’ll see 
What it contains of mystery.” 

Old Mother Bun said, 

“Surely, this little Bunny is wise; 

The letter may have in it a surprise.” 

Old Father Bun took a knife, slit open 
the envelope and looked at once at the 
end of the sheet to see whom it was from. 
It was signed, “Bunny Etiquette.” The 
letter read, 

“Bunnyville, March 9th, 1921. 

Dear Brother Bun: 

It is chilly this spring and the wind 
blows round my cottage, and I need 
some one to bring in wood and water 
and cheer me up. 

I am writing to ask if you could spare 
Pretty Bunny to come and make me a 


POLITE BUNNY 


13 



visit. I am lonesome and I often think 
I can hear the “pitter-patter” of little 
feet on the stairs. 

I am sending by express a warm cap 
and pair of mittens for each of the 
Bunnies. 


14 


POLITE BUNNY 


Write me soon. With kind regards to 
Old Mother Bun, 

Your affectionate sister, 

Edna Etiquette.” 


Pretty Bunny said, “May I go. Mother? 
May I go. Father? May I start at once?” 

Healthy Bunny said, “May I go, too? 
May I go, too?” 

Pretty Bunny turned to him and said, 

“Healthy Bunny, it is not polite 
Your own self ever to invite.” 

Healthy Bunny hung his head, for 
sure enough. Aunt Etiquette had only 
asked Pretty Bunny to come for a visit. 

Pretty Bunny then said again, “Oh 
Father and Mother, may I please go?” 

To this Old Father Bun replied. 


POLITE BUNNY 


16 


“You very seldom need to tease, 

When you use that small word 
‘PLEASE/ ” 

So it was decided that Pretty Bunny 
should go and visit Aunt Etiquette next 
week, and such a hurrying and scurry- 
ing as there was to get ready! 

Up in the garret they went and 
brought down Old Father Bun’s suit case 
and began to pack it full of clothes for 
Pretty Bunny. They never once 
imagined that at that very minute, up 
in another garret, another Bunny was 
packing a suit case that looked exactly 
like this one. 

Healthy Bunny looked sad for he 
wanted to go too. 

Suddenly, without any warning. Old 
Father Bun clapped his paws and 
shouted, 

“I think of little things like these. 

We should reply, if you please.” 

Sure enough, at the end of Aunt 
Etiquette’s letter they found the letters, 
“R. S. V. P.” 


16 


POLITE BUNNY 



While these letters were usually put 
only on a formal invitation to a party, 
Aunt Etiquette had used them just for 
fun to see if Pretty Bunny would know 
that they stood for French words mean- 
ing-, “Reply, if you please.” 



POLITE BUNOT 


17 


Now, who was going to write the let- 
ter in reply? 

Said Old Father Bun, “Don’t you think 
we’d better 

Sit right down to answer this kind 
letter?” 

Then he went off in his cozy corner to 
smoke. 

Said Old Mother Bun, “It makes me sigh, 
Every letter really needs a reply.” 

Then she went off to make apple dump- 
lings! 

Healthy Bunny said, 

“I hope some one will not forget 
To write to Old Aunt Etiquette.” 

Then he went out to take exercise and 
Pretty Bunny was left to answer the let- 
ter, of course. 

She drew up a stool beside Old Father 
Bun and said. 


18 


POLITE BUNNY 


“I will write the answer now, to-day, 
But, Old Father Bun, what shall I say?” 

Old Father Bun smoked a while in si- 
lence collecting his thoughts and then 
replied, 

“Pretty Bunny, now, let us hope 
You know how to address an envelope.” 

Pretty Bunny did not know, for she 
had never addressed an envelope in all 
her life. 

Said Old Father Bun kindly, 

“Pretty Bunny, notice, as you’re bright. 
Address each line farther to the right.” 

When the envelope was addressed it 
looked like this: 

Miss Edna Etiquette, 

106 Wood Avenue, 
Bunnyville, 

Wisconsin. 

Old Father Bun said, 

“Put a comma after each line but one; 
Place a period then when you are done.’’ 


POLITE BUNNY 


19 


Pretty Bunny said, 

“Father Bun, had I not better 
Buy a stamp to carry the letter?” 

Old Father Bun looked in his coat 
pocket and after quite a search found a 
postage stamp. He remarked, 

“Right side up you will agree. 

On the right hand corner a stamp you 
see.” 

Now, do you know Pretty Bunny put 
the stamp on the right hand corner of 
the envelope, but she put it on the lower 
right hand corner, instead of on the up- 
per right hand corner, by mistake, and 
so she had to soak off the stamp and 
paste it later in its proper place. 

She was now ready to write her letter. 

Old Father Bun said, “Now, I guess. 

At the top, to the right, put your ad- 
dress.” 

So Pretty Bunny wrote. 


20 


POLITE BUNNY 


“Woodville, Wisconsin, 
March 10th, 1921. 

My dear Aunt Etiquette, 

We received your letter with its kind 
invitation and Mother and Father say I 
may go to visit you soon. 

I can hardly wait for the time to 
come, and Healthy Bunny and I are 
anxious to receive the pretty things you 
are sending us. 

Father Bunny says he will bring me 
to your home on Friday. 

I hope you are real well, and I will 
be very happy to come and keep you 
company and do any errands I can for 
you. 

Your loving niece. 

Pretty Bunny. 

P. S. I wonder if you really did hear 
‘pitter, patter’ of little feet on the 
stairs, or could it have been what we call 
‘imagination’?” 

Old Father Bun said this was a very 
good letter for it answered Aunt Eti- 


POLITE BUNNY 


21 


quette’s questions and told her what she 
wanted to know. 

Old Father Bun had just finished his 
pipe when Old Mother Bun called, 

“Dinner is ready for every one; 

My dumplings, too, are exactly done.” 

Pretty Bunny went out to call Healthy 
Bunny and just then the expressman 
came with the caps and mittens. 

Of course, the Bunnies had to try them 
on at once. 

Mother Bun said, “I don’t mean to scold. 
But my dinner will all get cold.” 

She might have added that it shows 
very bad manners to be late to meals 
if we can possibly help it. 

The Bunnies took off their new things 
and came to dinner. Said Pretty Bunny, 

“Excuse us. Mother, we just had to wait; 
To dinner we do not mean to be late.” 

That night after they had all gone to 
bed. Pretty Bunny began to wonder 


22 


POLITE BUNNY 



about the “pitter, patter” of foot-steps 
on Aunt Etiquette’s stair-case. 

She wondered if there really was an- 
other Bunny in the house. 

Said the Old Family Clock in reply, 

"I knew once, but I forget, 

I lived long ago with Aunt Etiquette.” 

Pretty Bunny crept out of bed and 
pressed her face close to the Old Family 
Clock and whispered. 


POLITE BUNNY 


23 


“Fm afraid I’ll be lonesome, don’t you 
see, 

Without a young- Bunny for company; 

You see, I really truly care 

If a Bunnie travels on the stairs.” 

The Old, Family Clock ticked in the 
usual way for some time and then sang, 

“I knew once, but I’ve forgot. 

As like as not, as like as not.” 


CHAPTER 11. 


PRETTY BUNNY’S JOURNEY 


Pretty Bunny should refrain 
From eating peanuts on the train; 

She should not stare at any one, 

So says good Old Father Bun. 

The day for the journey came at last 
and Old Father Bun and Pretty Bunny 
waved their paws and cried, 

“Good bye, good bye, we are happy, you 
know; 

Good bye, good bye, on a journey we 
go.” 

They went briskly along until they 
came to town, and stood on the right side 
of the street watching for a street car. 

Pretty Bunny was so excited, she 
waved her red pocket handkerchief with 
the white spots in it at the street car 
conductor, and Old Father Bun said he 


24 


POLITE BUNNY 


25 


was surprised to find she had such poor 
manners, but as she had never seen a 
street car before, of course, she did not 
know how to behave. 

What a crowded car it was! 

Old Father Bun said, “Wait ’till the 
car stops to get on board.” He was par- 
ticular to have the fare ready so the con- 
ductor did not have to wait. He told 
Pretty Bunny, in some street cars you 
had to pay as you enter, and in some the 
conductor came to get the fares. 

Pretty Bunny began to stare at the 
passengers for they were so interesting, 
but Old Father Bun remarked quietly, 

“Good manners help us everywhere, 
And one should never rudely stare.” 

One passenger in particular interested 
Pretty Bunny. 

He sat beside her and began to talk in 
a most familiar manner. He said his 
name was Bunny Brag, and he was going 
on a long journey. He said he had his 
Father’s old suit case to carry. 


26 


POLITE BUNNY 



Pretty Bunny was so interested talk- 
ing that she would have gone on past her 
crossing if Father Bun had not been 
looking out for her and said, 

“You can have good manners if you 
choose; 

You had better mind your P’s and Q’s.” 

He meant that Pretty Bunny had bet- 
ter pay attention when the car stopped 


POLITE BUNNY 


27 


and be ready to get off, and he also 
wanted to remind her not to talk to 
strangers. 

Said Father Bun pleasantly, 

“You are starting on a real vacation. 
And here we are at the Railroad 
Station.” 

Pretty Bunny noticed a group of Bun- 
nies who were talking loudly in the sta- 
tion and Old Father Bun remarked to 
her, 

“Those Bunnies ought to hide their 
faces, 

They have no business in public 
places.” 

He went to get their tickets and check 
their suitcase, then they got aboard the 
train. 

Pretty Bunny was so excited she cried, 
“Where shall we sit? May I take a seat 
next the window? Are all the seats re- 
served? How soon will we start?” She 
was so noisy that several passengers 
turned and stared. 


28 


POLITE BUNNY 


Old Father Bun said, 

“Pretty Bunny, let me explain. 

We should have good manners on the 
train; 

Let no one know where you wish to go, 
And always speak in a voice quite low.” 

Pretty Bunny was sorry she had made 
enough noise to attract the attention of 
other people, so she sat very still until 
the train started. 

She began to think of her visit to Aunt 
Etiquette and wondered who the strange 
Rabbit could be who went so quietly on 
the stairs. She thought that the wheels 
suddenly said, 

“Up the stairs, up the stairs. 

Nobody cares, nobody cares.” 

It was at this very minute that Old 
Father Bun asked Pretty Bunny if she 
could take care of the check for her 
suit-case. 

Of course. Pretty Bunny said, “Yes,” 
and Old Father Bun added. 


POLITE BUNNY 


29 


“Let me mention this again, 

Don’t talk to strangers on the train.” 

In a few minutes, Pretty Bunny felt 
a tap on her back. There stood Bunny 
Brag who had come on the same train 
without their noticing him. As Pretty 
Bunny had talked with him in the street 
car, somehow she did not look upon him 
as a stranger. 

Bunny Brag sat down in the seat be- 
side her and said, 

“I have a check for my suit-case, too; 

I tied mine with a ribbon blue.” 

He felt in his pocket and found a piece 
of blue ribbon and tied it on Pretty 
Bunny’s check. Every once in a while 
they exchanged checks just for fun, and 
soon they had them so mixed up they 
did not know which really belonged to 
them. Bunny Brag said it made no dif- 
ference any way, the checks looked just 
alike. They did not compare the num- 
bers on them. 
























POLITE BUNNY 


31 


Bunny Brag said he was going on a 
long journey but he knew how to take 
care of himself for he had been in the 
cars before. He bragged a great deal 
about his trip. 

He offered Pretty Bunny some pea- 
nuts and when Old Father Bun returned 
he found peanut shells on the floor and 
car seat. 

He made the two little Bunnies pick 
them up and asked Bunny Brag to give 
him his seat. He then said to Pretty 
Bunny, 

“I thought I told you this before, 

Don’t throw things upon the floor; 

If anything you have to eat, 

Always keep the car-seat neat.” 

He saw that Pretty Bunny had her 
check on a ribbon round her neck and 
thought no more about the matter. 

Bunny Brag ran up and down the aisle 
for a drink of water. 

Pretty Bunny said, “May I get a drink 
of water, too?” 


32 


POLITE BUNNY 



Old Father Bun replied, 

“Can’t you really wait until 
We arrive at Bunny ville?” 

He took out his little watch and said 
they would get to their journey’s end in 
half an hour. 

The little silver watch was a magic 
watch and as Old Father Bun held it 


POLITE BUNNY 


33 


up to Pretty Bunny’s ear it said, as it 
ticked merrily along, 

“Here is a true saying, do not doubt it. 
You’re not thirsty unless you think 
about it.” 

Old Father Bun continued it was a 
great annoyance for youngsters to al- 
ways want a drink of water when they 
were away from home. 

In a short time they arrived at Bunny- 
ville. 

They waited until the train stopped to 
get off and Old Father Bun helped 
Pretty Bunny down as she was so lit- 
tle. Then he took the check from the 
ribbon round her neck and got the suit- 
case and they tripped off merrily to Aunt 
Etiquette’s home. 

When they arrived, there stood Aunt 
Etiquette in the door-way. She kissed 
them both and they soon sat down to 
dinner. 

Old Father Bun said he must catch 
the next train home, so he soon bade 
Aunt Etiquette good bye, and Pretty 


34 


POLITE BUNNY 


Bunny stood and waved at him as long 
as he was in sight. 

Then she said, 

“Aunt Etiquette, what is the matter? 

I don’t hear your Bunny ‘pitter, patter’.” 

Now, Aunt Etiquette had beautiful 
manners, but when she did not want to 
answer a question she pretended she 
did not hear, so she often made an odd 
reply. Now she said, 

“We will go up stairs, never fear. 

And unpack your suit-case, dear.” 

Up the mysterious stair-case they 
went, and each board creaked after 
them, for the house was very old, and 
Pretty Bunny did think she heard some 
one else beside Aunt Etiquette behind 
her, but as she turned she saw no other 
Bunny. 

Pretty Bunny unlocked the suit case 
and took out the first garment. It was 
such a suit as Healthy Bunny would 
wear. As they kept on unpacking it 
grew worse and worse; there was not a 
thing for a Bunny Girl to wear. 


POUTE BUNNY 


85 



Pretty Bunny sat down and cried. 

Old Aunt Etiquette said, 

“Pretty Bunny, please explain. 

Did you exchange checks on the train?” 

Aunt Etiquette thought of this, for 
she had once done the same thing when 
she was a little girl. Then Pretty Bunny 
explained the whole matter, and Aunt 
Etiquette said they would try to find 
Bunny Brag for he had her suit-case, of 
course! 

Aunt Etiquette was a cheerful person 
and remarked. 


36 


POLITE BUNNY 


“We will learn from a mistake, 

Another one we will not make.” 

Aunt Etiquette then explained that it 
was important to keep your own ticket 
and check on a train, and that though 
the checks looked alike they had differ- 
ent numbers upon them and each check 
belonged to its own suit-case. 

When bed time came. Aunt Etiquette 
tucked Pretty Bunny up in one of her 
own nighties, though it was miles too 
big, and she kissed her, saying, 

“Trouble now we will not borrow; 

Fll make you a dress to-morrow.” 

Old Aunt Etiquette went down stairs 
to read the evening paper, and Pretty 
Bunny tried to remember some of the 
things she had learned on her trip. 

She wondered if she would hear the 
“pitter, patter” again on the stairs. 

The Old Grandfather Clock ticked 
away, singing, 

“Our big front door we always lock. 
Tick, tock, tick, tock.” 


POLITE BUNNY 


3V 


Pretty Bunny felt quite at home when 
she heard the kindly Old Grandfather 
Clock talking right outside her door, so 
she said sleepily, 


“I’ll say my lesson over again, 

We should not eat peanuts on the train; 
And if for manners we really care. 

At strangers we will not rudely stare; 
And we can remember to speak low, 
When on a journey we have to go. 
Whether we have to ride or walk, 

This lesson I hope you’ve learned before. 
Please don’t throw things upon the 
floor; 

If you’re a well-mannered son or 
daughter. 

You’ll not ALWAYS ask for a drink of 
water; 

To sum up these jingles as a whole. 
Have you learned the lesson of Self- 
control?” 

The Old Grandfather Clock enjoyed 
that very much and sang, 


38 


POLITE BUNNY 


“Your advice is good but it sounds 
funny; 

Go to sleep now, Pretty Bunny; 

The Sandman never stops to knock, 
Tick, tock, tick, tock.” 

Before Pretty Bunny could think up 
another jingle she fell fast asleep. 


CHAPTER III. 


THE BED-ROOM BUNNY 


Pretty Bunny, please don’t forget 
This Bed-Room belongs to Aunt Eti- 
quette, 

So, Pretty Bunny, don’t you suppose 
You can put it in order and pick up 
clothes? 

Pretty Bunny woke early next morn- 
ing and sprang out of bed and looked in 
the mirror. She saw another Bunny 
just her size and called, “Who are you?” 
The other Bunny replied, 

“Said the Looking-Glass Bunny, ‘it’s 
funny but true. 

The more you see me, the more I see 
you.’” 

Pretty Bunny nodded her head and 
the Looking-Glass Bunny did the same. 

“How many Bunnies live in this 


39 


40 


POLITE BUNNY 


house?” asked Pretty Bunny. The Look- 
ing-Glass Bunny answered, 

‘T can’t count, though you think it 
funny; 

Perhaps you will meet the Shadow 
Bunny.” 

It was very early, and Pretty Bunny 
was beginning to feel a little homesick 
when the Looking-Glass Bunny said, 

“Pretty Bunny, you should rejoice, 
Everj^hing in this room has a voice.” 

Right then and there, there was a 
humming sound and a voice from the 
window called, 

“Pretty Bunny, don’t you care 
About letting in fresh air?” 

Pretty Bunny had forgotten to open 
the window. 

My! How close and stuffy the room 
was! 

She ran now and opened the window 
and was wondering what to do next to 


POLITE BUNNY 


41 


put the bed-room in order when a voice 
called, 

“Here is the foot, and here is the head. 
Do you know the way to make a bed?” 

The pillows danced round in the most 
comical manner and sang, 

“Pretty Bunny, if you are bright. 

You will enjoy a pillow fight.” 

My! that was a difficult bed to make! 
But in the course of time Pretty Bunny 
had aired the bedding and made the bed 
up neatly with the pillows at the head. 

Pretty Bunny next enjoyed a cold 
bath and never for a minute thought to 
pick up anything until a voice cried, 

“Said the pitcher, T’ve heard such things 
before. 

Careless people leave me on the floor.’ ” 

Pretty Bunny picked up the pitcher to 
set on the wash stand when, to her sur- 
prise, 


42 


POLITE BUNNY 


The wash bowl said, “Just listen a 
minute, 

Why leave the bowl full, with water in 
it?” 


Pretty Bunny emptied the water out 
of the bowl, dried it and set the pitcher 
neatly in it. 

Towels were on the floor and towels 
were on a chair. 

To her surprise Pretty Bunny heard a 
voice say, 

“Pretty Bunny, have you the knack 
Of hanging- towels upon a rack?” 
Then in a voice that scolded. 

She said, “Is each towel folded?” 

Pretty Bunny laughed as she folded 
the towels and put them on the rack. 
She was ready to dance down stairs when 
a voice cried out, 

“Though a maid is really the bed-room 
keeper. 

You might plan to use the carpet 
sweeper.” 


POLITE BUNNY 


43 


Pretty Bunny found the carpet 
sweeper and ran it over the rug where 
she had gotten lint from the towels. She 
then dusted the room and was just ready 
when Aunt Etiquette rang the bell for 
breakfast. 

Pretty Bunny said, “Good morning, I 
hope you slept well. Aunt Etiquette,” 
and she kissed her on both cheeks, re- 
marking, all in one breath, as little Bun- 
nies do, 

“How many Bunnies live with you? 

Tell me. Aunt Etiquette, please do.” 

Aunt Etiquette replied, 

“Speak a little louder, dear. 

So Aunt Etiquette can hear.” 

Try hard as she would. Pretty Bunny 
could not make Aunt Etiquette under- 
stand a word of what she said! 

They had a happy day together and 
when night came the most surprising 
thing happened! 

Pretty Bunny heard the “pitter, pat- 


44 


POLITE BUNNY 


ter” of little feet behind her as she went 
up stairs. Turning again, she could see 
no one. As usual, she threw her clothes 
on the floor and heard a merry voice 
say, 

“For Bed-Room Manners if you care. 
Fold your clothes up on a chair.” 

Pretty Bunny always minded, for 
minding is a part of good manners, so 
she sprang out of bed and folded her 
clothes neatly on a chair. 

She hopped back into bed, and to her 
surprise saw a little Bunny sitting on 
one of the bed posts. He said, 

“Myself ril introduce to you; 

Fm the Bed-Room Bunny, how do you 
do?” 

Pretty Bunny bowed politely and the 
Bed-Room Bunny continued, 

“You can learn manners if you choose; 
Tell me, where did you put your shoes?” 

Pretty Bunny had left her shoes on 
the floor where any one might stumble 


POLITE BUNNY 


45 


over them. She got up now and put 
them under the chair by her clothes, 
saying, 

“I learn Bed-Room manners by day and 
night; 

I really like to be called polite.” 

The Bed-Room Bunny answered, 

“Open your window, open it wide. 

If you really must sleep inside.” 

Pretty Bunny got up and opened her 
window wide, and before she had time 
to ask how many Bunnies lived in the 
house, she had fallen asleep and was 
dreaming that every room in the house 
needed to be put in order. She heard a 
voice call, 

“Fm the Good Mannered Bunny, I sing, 
and sing. 

We should have a place for everything.” 

Next morning Pretty Bunny took 
pride in picking up her room, and she 
asked to do the same for Aunt Etiquette 
who was old and stiff and lame. 


46 


POLITE BUNNY 


Aunt Etiquette was glad of a little 
help but remarked, 

“Bed-Room Manners taught me long 
ago 

Said, ‘Air your bed for an hour or so’.” 

Pretty Bunny learned to leave the 
beds airing and made them up later in 
the day. She helped Aunt Etiquette all 
day long and said, 

“I have met the Bed-Room Bunny, 

I don’t see him often, it is funny; 

And I would give a mint of money. 

If I could play with Looking-Glass 
Bunny.” 

The Looking-Glass Bunny would not 
step over the mirror frame, though 
Pretty Bunny tried to coax him to come 
out and play. 

One day Pretty Bunny tacked some 
pictures up on the wall and the Bed-Room 
Bunny peeped out from an open bureau 
drawer and said, 

“Don’t you hear me really scolding? 
Hang pictures only from the moulding.” 


POLITE BUNNY 


47 


Sure enough, there was picture 
moulding all around the room. 

There were plenty of hooks to hang 
pictures on and it did seem a shame to 
drive tacks in the wall. 

The Bed-Room Bunny also remarked, 

“A bureau drawer, as I suppose. 

Is really meant to open and CLOSE.” 

He shouted the word “CLOSE”, for 
every bureau drawer was open a little 
and it gave the room an untidy appear- 
ance. 

Pretty Bunny closed up the bureau 
drawers and went about dancing and 
singing a happy little song, 

“Bed-Room Manners if you please. 

Tell us many things like these. 

Let the fresh air come inside. 

Air your bed and make it neatly. 

Try to do your tasks completely. 

Fold towels neatly, for you know 
They look best hung in a row. 


48 


POLITE BUNNY 



In order put your wash-stand too, 

This any one can learn to do, 

Brush your room, we give fair warning, 
That you then may call “Good Morning.” 
And before you are quite through 
A duster we’ll introduce to you; 

These rules we think you’ll not forget. 
They make up Bed-Room Etiquette.” 

All this time no word had come from 
Bunny Brag and the lost suit case. Many 
times Pretty Bunny wondered how he 


POLITE BUNNY 


49 


felt when he opened her suit case and 
found it filled with dresses. 

Late that night Pretty Bunny heard 
the “patter, patter” of little feet, and 
called, “Who is there?” A voice 
answered, “Who is there?” Pretty Bunny 
continued, “That is not fair,” and the 
voice answered, “not fair.” 

Pretty Bunny wondered more and 
more who was the Bunny who was re- 
peating everything she said. 

She said to herself, “I love this old 
house and everything in it, and to-mor- 
row I will just sit out there on the stairs 
and try to catch the Bunny who goes 
“pitter patter,” but now I will say (and 
she spoke out loud) “Good night and 
pleasant dreams.” 

A sweet voice answered, “Pleasant 
dreams.” 


CHAPTER IV. 


MANNERS AT TABLE. 

Every Bunny is surely able 
To learn good manners at the table, 
And you in turn will not regret 
If you learn table etiquette. 

Next day Pretty Bunny put her room 
in order and went hoppety skip down 
stairs, and straight to the breakfast 
table. 

She started to slip into her chair, 
when to her surprise the chair said, 

“To learn some manners it is best. 

Do not sit down before the rest.” 

Pretty Bunny said, “This is the most 
wonderful house I was ever in for even 
the furniture talks to me.” 

Just then Aunt Etiquette came in 
with a steaming cup of coffee. Pretty 
Bunny pulled out a chair for her and 
waited to sit down until she was seated 
and said a pleasant “Good morning.” 


50 


POLITE BUNNY 


51 


She said, “I do like cakes and honey; 
Where’s my friend, the Bed-Room 
Bunny?” 

Aunt Etiquette smiled and said 
quite as though she had not heard this 
question, 

“Pretty Bunny, are you able 
To keep your elbows off the table?” 

Pretty Bunny blushed rosy red, un- 
folded her napkin and sat very straight. 
When helped to coffee, cakes and honey, 
she began to eat rather noisily and Aunt 
Etiquette said, 

“Bunnies, as well as girls and boys. 

Can eat their meals with little noise.” 

Pretty Bunny said, “How I do love 
to learn lessons by saying jingles over 
and over, for the funny little rhymes I 
can’t forget, and they make me remem- 
ber useful things.” 

Just then a crash was heard and 
Pretty Bunny was so excited she left the 
table without stopping to say, “Excuse 


52 


POLITE BUNNY 


She ran up stairs and found the mir- 
ror in her room had fallen and broken in- 
to many pieces. She looked all about 
for the Looking-Glass Bunny but caught 
only a glimpse of her long ears, and 
though she called him again and again 
she received no answer. 

Aunt Etiquette called, 

“Perhaps the mirror can be mended; 

Do not leave the meal ‘till it is ended.” 

Pretty Bunny slipped back into her 
place at the table and said, “Please ex- 
cuse me. Aunt Etiquette, I was so excited 
by the noise.” Aunt Etiquette answered, 

“Manners at table, manners at table 
You can learn for you’re plenty able.” 

Pretty Bunny said, “Please teach me 
good table manners. Aunt Etiquette, so 
I will never be ashamed.” 


Aunt Etiquette then said a magic 


POLITE BUNNY 


63 



verse and everything on the table re- 
ceived a voice and one thing after an- 
other began to talk. 

Said the pretty silver knife, 

“I’ve had troubles all my life; 

In your mouth I don’t belong; 

Tell it in rhyme, tell it in song.” 


54 


POLITE BUNNY 


Pretty Bunny used her knife to cut 
butter with, which was perfectly proper, 
and she ate her food neatly with her fork 
and spoon. Then a new voice piped up, 

“I will teach a lesson very soon. 

Eat from the side of your spoon.” 

The spoon went on telling about 
some people who will take soup the 
wrong way, putting the point of the 
spoon into the mouth instead of sipping 
it from the side. 

Pretty Bunny twisted round a good 
deal in her chair until the chair said, 

“You’re a restless Bunny, I declare; 

Try to sit still in your chair.” 

She dropped some crumbs on the 
floor and the rug under her feet sang 
out, 

“Good manners require one thing more. 
Don’t drop crumbs upon the floor.” 

Pretty Bunny was excited to hear 
all these voices and she was very hungry, 
too, so she said, “Give me coffee, please. 
May I have more honey?” 


POLITE BUNNY 


55 


The honey pitcher remarked sweet- 
ly, 

“Wait ’till food is passed to you, 

As a well mannered Bunny would do.” 

Pretty Bunny said, “Aunt Etiquette, 
there are so many things to learn, I do 
wonder what broke the mirror?” 

Aunt Etiquette said, 

“The cord was broken once before; 

I think it fell upon the floor.” 

Pretty Bunny was still hungry and 
started to take two cookies at a time to 
flnish up her breakfast and the cookie 
plate called out, 

“If you can learn a simple rhyme. 

Take just one thing at a time.” 

Pretty Bunny put one cookie back 
on the plate. Now, as she was not al- 
ways careful to chew with her mouth 
closed. Aunt Etiquette remarked, 

“To be well mannered ’tis supposed 
To eat your food with mouth well 
closed.” 


56 


POLITE BUNNY 


Pretty Bunny began to drum upon 
the plate and the table said, 

“Bunny, ’tis a sad mistake 
Drumming noises now to make.” 

Pretty Bunny finished breakfast. 

Now, I am happy to relate. 

Her knife and fork lay on her plate 
Side by side, and the proper thing. 

She put her napkin in the ring. 

Just as Pretty Bunny said, “Aunt 
Etiquette, may I be excused from the 
table?” “Ting-a-ling,” rang the door 
bell, and Pretty Bunny went to answer. 

There to her surprise stood Home- 
less Bunny, and Happy Bunny, and 
Healthy Bunny and Heedless Bunny; 
they had come on a hike all the way. 

Pretty Bunny bowed to her visitors 
and asked them in and introduced them 
one at a time to Aunt Etiquette. 

Aunt Etiquette said, 

“You are welcome to stay a year and day; 
You may attend school just down the 
way.” 



TKere Stood Homeless, Happy, Heedless, and 

Healtky Bunny 





POLITE BUNNY 


57 



“School!” said Homeless Bunny. 

“School!” said Happy Bunny. 

Healthy Bunny asked, “Is it school- 
time?” 

Heedless Bunny said, “Would we 
really have to go to school?” 

Aunt Etiquette answered, 

“School is in session, as a rule; 

Fine manners you can learn in school.” 

Then, without a word of warning. 


58 


POLITE BUNNY 


instantly and in a moment of time, Heed- 
less Bunny turned a somersault and ran 
off as fast as his legs could carry him. 

Happy Bunny said, “If you will 
excuse me. Aunt Etiquette, I will hurry 
homeward.” Heedless Bunny said, 
“Good bye,” and so you see only Healthy 
Bunny was willing to stay and go to 
school. 

Healthy Bunny and Pretty Bunny 
talked after they had gone to bed that 
night and Pretty Bunny said, 

“You can learn, if you are able. 

Very good manners at the table; 
Perhaps you’ve heard me say before. 
Don’t drop crumbs upon the floor; 

Use your knife to butter bread. 

For food use fork and spoon instead; 
Keep your lips closed, if you please, 
Don’t make noises — do not tease. 

This lesson you can learn quite soon, 
Drink soup from the side of the spoon; 
To fold your napkin you are able. 

And say “Excuse me from the table.” 

Pretty Bunny’s head went nid-nid, 
nodding, and she was soon fast asleep, 
but Healthy Bunny heard the “patter. 


POLITE BUNNY 


69 


patter, patter,” of little feet upon the 
stairs. He wondered if it could be 
Bunny Brag coming with the suit case. 

He ran out in the hall and saw no 
one, so he said “I must have fallen asleep 
and been dreaming after all. I wish I 
could see the Looking-Glass Bunny, but 
I suppose he broke the mirror and ran 
away.” 

Healthy Bunny crept down into the 
hall and danced before the mirror and 
there he saw the Looking-Glass Bunny 
dancing merrily. He asked the Looking- 
Glass Bunny who went “pitter, patter,” on 
the stairs, but the Looking-Glass Bunny 
only nodded and smiled and danced, and 
did not answer a word for sixteen min- 
utes, then he whispered, 

“I could tell you, if I choose. 

But you’d scatter far and wide the 

news.” 

Healthy Bunny laughed and went 
back to bed, for the Looking-Glass Bunny 
could keep some secrets after all. 

Healthy Bunny dreamed that he sat 
at table with Aunt Etiquette and sang 
to the tune of “Twinkle Little Star,” 


60 


POLITE BUNNY 


“Bunnies, you will not regret 
Lessons learned in Etiquette; 

At the table have a care 
To sit straight up in your chair.” 

Next morning at breakfast Healthy 
Bunny asked if he might repeat the 
song. 

Aunt Etiquette said, “Yes,” and 
added, 

“Manners at table, manners at table. 
Are taught by Fairy Tale and Fable; 
If we try, we all are able 
To learn good manners at the table.” 


CHAPTER V. 


MANNERS IN SCHOOL 

Aunt Etiquette said, “I remember 
School began here last September, 

And manners that you learn in school 
Will always help you, as a rule.” 

Next morning Aunt Etiquette said, 
“If you are going to visit me a year and 
a day, you will have to start to school.” 

Healthy Bunny said, “I will go back 
home, but Pretty Bunny can stay and go 
to school.” 

Pretty Bunny began to feel a little 
homesick at that but she helped Aunt 
Etiquette fill up her dinner pail and bade 
good bye to Healthy Bunny at the cross- 
roads and sang, 

“Sing a song as you go by. 

And never, never, never cry.” 


61 


62 


POLITE BUNNY 



A merry voice answered, 

“I think your little rhymes are funny. 
Turn around — see Shadow Bunny.” 

Pretty Bunny turned around and 
saw Shadow Bunny behind her. She 
laughed at his long ears, but he said. 


POLITE BUNNY 


63 


“I follow you about all day; 

I am Shadow Bunny — I like to play.” 

Pretty Bunny hopped along and said 
to herself, “I feel rather strange for this 
will be my first day in the new school. 
I wonder if Bunny Brag may possibly 
come to this school.” 

Bunny Brag did not appear at school, 
and Pretty Bunny did not meet him for 
days and days. 

Pretty Bunny looked around when 
she came to the door of the school; 
Shadow Bunny had disappeared. 

Pretty Bunny hesitated a minute, 
but the Bunnies in Miss Manner’s school 
were very polite. They told Pretty 
Bunny where to hang her wraps and her 
dinner-pail, and made her feel quite at 
home. As it was not yet time for school 
to begin, the Bunnies went and cleaned 
the blackboard and erasers and hung up 
all the erasers neatly on the hooks. 
They said, 

“We help the teacher every day 
In our work in every way.” 


64 


POLITE BUNNY 



The teacher came in with a pleasant 
“Good Morning.” 

She read a story that day that every 
one liked. The story was called, “Little 
Rag— Tag.” 

“Once upon a time, Little Rag-Tag 
came to school. She had on a ragged 
dress and the buttons were off her shoes. 

Little Miss Brag said, “Look at her 
dress,” and Thoughtless Tom said, “Look 
at her shoes.” 



POLITE BUNNY 


66 


They made so much fun of her that 
it made Little Rag — ^Tag very unhappy. 

I don’t know what she would have 
done but Little Miss Shy came and 
hugged her and showed her where to 
sit, and made her feel at home. She 
even loaned her a new blue pencil. 

Little Rag — Tag made the blue pencil 
spell; 

Little Rag — Tag did her numbers well. 

She forgot her torn dress and old 
shoes, but at recess 

Some thoughtless children made her cry. 
They pointed her out as she passed by. 
Little Miss Shy seemed to understand. 
She walked beside her, and took her 
hand. 

After that. Little Rag — Tag did not 
come to school for days and days and the 
teacher found out she was ill. 

The school room Clock said, “If you 
don’t mind, 

I’ll give you a lesson in being kind; 

It would make you unhappy, too. 

If any one were to laugh at you; 

Why don’t you try, like Little Miss Shy, 
To do a kindness as you pass by?” 


66 


POLITE BUNNY 


Little Miss Brag and Thoughtless 
Tom were sorry they had been unkind 
and Little Miss Shy said, 

“In school there are so very many, 

What if each one gave a penny? 

We can remember, if we try, 

And a new dress we can buy.” 

The pennies came thick and fast 
and they helped to buy a dress all ready 
made for Little Rag — ^Tag, and the next 
time she came to school she had on the 
new dress, and her shoes were neatly 
buttoned, and she said “I love every one.” 

A little kindness had made her all 
smiles and sunshine.” 

The Bunnes liked this story so well 
that for three whole days they remem- 
bered not to make fun of any one as a 
lesson in manners and a lesson in kind- 
ness. 

Next day, when Pretty Bunny got 
to school, she saw some of the Bunnies 
in a group laughing at some joke they 
did not explain to the others. She said, 

“Good mannered Bunnies have a care 
Their jokes with every one to share.” 


POLITE BUNNY 


67 



The Bunnies in this school did really 
want to learn good manners, so now they 
shared their joke with Pretty Bunny. 

Then Pretty Bunny said, ‘T know a 
joke, too. 

‘Yesterday, ’twas really funny, 

I came to school with Shadow Bunny; 
I thought to-day we’d run a race. 

But could not find her any place.” 




68 


POLITE BUNNY 


The Bunnies said, 

“Shadow Bunny is full of fun, 

But only comes out with the sun.” 

The day was cloudy, and Pretty 
Bunny said, “How much there is to learn 
in school, and out,” and the School Room 
Clock quite agreed with her, for by and 
by, when the Bunnies were asking to bor- 
row pencils and erasers and rulers, the 
School Room Clock sang, 

“Provide yourselves with things to-mor- 
row. 

Then you will not have to borrow.” 

Some of the Bunnies whispered and 
the School Room Clock ticked loudly and 
said, 

“Good manners you must learn again. 
From whispering then please refrain.” 

Some of the Bunnies had to look in 
the dictionary to see what the last word 
meant. Do you? 

They all became so still in school 
they could hear the Clock ticking. 


POLITE BUNNY 


69 


That day so many children wanted 
to go out for a drink of water and so 
many children asked needless questions 
that Miss Manners said, 

“Self-control is a mighty task; 

Think before some things you ask.” 

When the Bunnies stopped to think 
they found many questions they asked 
were needless. The Clock talked again, 

“Do not shuffle with your feet; 

Keep the aisles about you neat.” 

It continued, 

“Don’t snap your fingers; observe the 
rule 

Be polite all day in school.” 

Miss Manners taught them all to 
play games and reminded them to be 
honest. She said, 

“Take your turn, perhaps you’ll beat. 

No one can endure a cheat.” 

Some Bunnies wanted to break into 
a game already started and some of them 


70 


POLITE BUNNY 


boasted they could run faster than any 
one else. Miss Manners said, 

“We’ll make a good-mannered poster; 
No one ever loves a boaster.” 

She continued to say that we should 
be willing to take our turn in playing a 
game and be good- natured whether we 
won or not. 

Tattle-Tale Bunny stood in the cor- 
ner of the play-ground talking to a new 
Bunny, and Miss Manners called him to 
her quietly and said that we should not 
repeat tales to any one, even after school; 
the only ones safe to confide in were the 
teacher, or one’s own mother. 

When the recess games were over 
the Bunnies came trooping in, still noisy 
and out of breath. Then the teacher 
gave them a “Sitting Lesson.” They had 
to fold their paws and sit so still they 
could hear the Clock tick. 

Miss Manners had them write, as a 
lesson, something to remember after 
school. They wrote, 

“We will not linger about to play. 

We will go home from school each day.” 


POLITE BUNNY 


71 


If Pretty Bunny had followed this 
advice she would not have met with mis- 
fortune. As it was, she hung around the 
school grounds some time and then went 
loitering along, singing, 

“When I grow up I’ll keep each rule. 
And have good manners each day in 
school; 

I’ll take two pencils, so I’ll not borrow 
One from my seat-mate, to-day or to- 
morrow; 

I will not whisper, you understand, 
And quietly I’ll raise my hand; 

I’ll keep my desk and aisle so neat. 

And not make noises with my feet; 

On the play ground every day, 

I will stand up for fair play;” 

Pretty Bunny behaved well as a rule 
But went on singing, “Manners in 
School.” 

She went on humming until some one 
said, 

“Here you are, my run-a-way; 

I’ve looked for you most all day.” 

Pretty Bunny looked around and be- 
fore she could say a word a large Bunny 
was leading her off. 


CHAPTER VI. 

SHOPPING MANNERS 

Have you thought of this before, 

To have good manners in the store? 

If you go there day or night, 

Always try to be polite. 

Pretty Bunny said to the strange 
Bunny, “I am sure you are mistaken; I 
am on my way home from school.” 

The stranger Bunny said, “Ha, ha, ha, 
so you think you can fool me again; in- 
deed, I have never had such a search 
in all my life.” 

The strange Bunny was very near- 
sighted, and she really did mistake 
Pretty Bunny for her own run-away 
Grandchild! 

On they went until they came to the 
grocery store, then in they went. 

Pretty Bunny was very hungry. 

Are you ever hungry after school? 


72 


POLITE BUNNY 


73 



She picked up a few peanuts that were 
in a box on the counter, really without 
thinking, and the strange Bunny boxed 
her ears, saying, 

“Your ways seem very rude and funny; 
Don’t help yourself, but pay your 
money.” 


74 


POLITE BUNNY 


Another Bunny was ordering of an- 
other clerk and kept asking questions 
and said the prices were much too high 
and talked so as to take up all the clerk’s 
time. 

The strange Bunny asked Pretty 
Bunny if she had noticed this after they 
had left the store, and remarked, 

“To be well-mannered I hope you’ll try; 
Don’t handle things unless you buy.’’ 

Pretty Bunny said, “Let me go home, 
please let me go home; you have made 
a mistake, I am not your grandchild at 
all, I am visiting Aunt Etiquette.’’ 

The strange Bunny went hurrying on 
as though nothing had been said. They 
went into a house at last and the door 
latched behind them. 

The strange Bunny looked at Pretty 
Bunny very hard and said, 

“I think perhaps I have been tricked 
But it is not your business to contra- 
dict.” 


POLITE BUNNY 


76 


She went on to say we should be very 
careful about disputing with our elders; 
even if we feel sure we are right, we 
should say politely, “I thing it was this 
way.” 

Pretty Bunny sat down and cried. 

The stranger Bunny said, 

“We should try, in all times and places. 
To be cheerful, with smiling faces; 
You don’t know some things I suspect; 
To older people show respect.” 

Then Pretty Bunny got up and bowed 
low and said, 

“I did not really want to come; 

Let me go home, let me go home.” 

The strange Bunny said, 

“A little Bunny should not tease. 

But use words like “If you please.” 

After this, the strange Bunny began 
to act wild and said “Who broke my 
water pitcher this morning? and who hid 
my coal scuttle? Who ran off with my 
big cabbage?” 


76 


POLITE BUNNY 


?>Tow Pretty Bunny wished for the 
hundredth time she had gone right 
home from school and truly she did not 
know what to do, for she had done none 
of these things, and I don’t know what in 
the world would have happened if the 
Run Away Bunny had not come bound- 
ing in at that very moment. 

He said, 

“I am hungry, I want honey, 

I am back. Run Away Bunny, 

The strange Bunny put on her best 
spectacles and said, 

“I did make a mistake I see. 

But Bunnies look alike to me.” 

For all that, she would not let Pretty 
Bunny go home in the dark, for evening 
had come. 

Run Away Bunny was very impolite 
and called the strange Bunny by her first 
name. 


She boxed his ears and said. 


POLITE BUNNY 


77 


“I have told you before, it is a shame 
To call an older person by their first 
name.” 

Pretty Bunny said, ‘T learned another 
lesson one day in politeness. Shall I tell 
it to you?” 

“We should not laugh at a story we tell, 
Not even if we relate it well.” 

The strange Bunny asked her grand- 
child for another ball of yarn, for she 
was busily knitting. She was surprised 
to have it tossed to her from across the 
room. 

She said, 

“Do not toss things, that’s rarely done; 
Always hand them, please, to every one.” 

Just then she remembered she was 
thirsty and asked Pretty Bunny to go and 
get her a pitcher of water, which pretty 
Bunny was glad to do, of course, but she 
handed her the pitcher in the wrong man- 
ner, still holding onto the handle her- 
self. 


78 


POLITE BUNNY 


Said the strange Bunny, 

“Some manners you have learned I see, 
But the handle please turn toward me.” 

She continued by saying that we should 
always pass an article to another with 
the handle toward them; that was the 
correct thing to do. 

Pretty Bunny said, “I am afraid Aunt 
Etiquette will be looking for me at 
home.” 

The strange Bunny said, 

“She will worry, I do not doubt it. 

But what can we really do about it?” 

Pretty Bunny said she was not afraid 
of the dark and was anxious to get back 
to Aunt Etiquette, but the strange Bunny 
said, “It is not safe for youngsters to be 
out late,” so they sat for an hour and 
ten minutes thinking over the matter. 

The strange Bunny said, “This thing 
ril do, 

I will walk on home to-night with you.” 
No sooner said than done. 


POLITE BUNNY 


78 



The Run Away Bunny was left to keep 
house, and the other went off in the 
dark, the strange Bunny saying, 

“I learned, before I grew so old. 

To always do as I was told.” 

Pretty Bunny replied, 

‘T really meant to keep the rule. 

And not linger after school.” 




80 


POLITE BUNNY 


A light shone from Aunt Etiquette’s 
door-way. 

She stood in her own door-way, and as 
they drew near they heard her say, 

“Where, oh, where, is Pretty Bunny? 

I wouldn’t lose her for a mint of money.” 

Several Bunnies crowded round Aunt 
Etiquette. 

Said Homeless Bunny, “I hear foot- 
steps.” 

Said Heedless Bunny, “Perhaps she is 
coming home.” 

Said Happy Bunny, “I think I hear her 
voice.” 

Said Healthy Bunny, “Here come two 
Bunnies down the road, clippety, clip- 
pety, clip.” 

Sure enough the strange Bunny and 
Pretty Bunny were coming nearer every 
minute, and in less time than it takes 
to tell it Pretty Bunny was in Aunt Eti- 


POLITE BUNNY 


81 



quette’s arms and the strange Bunny 
came inside and had a cup of tea and 
said, 


“I am sorry I made this mistake; 

Very good tea, indeed, you make.” 

It is polite to compliment a hostess on 
her food and drink. The strange Bunny 
said she was very near sighted and had 
been looking for her Run- Away grand- 
child all day. She was sorry, indeed, she 
had made such a mistake. 


82 


POLITE BUNNY 


Aunt Etiquette politely asked her vis- 
itor to stay all night, but she declined and 
asking Aunt Etiquette to call on her soon, 
went homeward. 

Pretty Bunny said she learned more 
about manners every day of her life. 

She said, “I am learning more, and more. 
We can have good manners in the store; 
We should not complain about the price. 
Or ask the same thing over twice; 

If things we don’t intend to buy. 

To keep our hands off we must try; 

We should not sample things, ’tis true, 
Unless the clerk should ask us to.” 

Aunt Etiquette kissed Pretty Bunny 
good night, and said, 

“You are fortunate this time, it’s true; 
No telling what might have happened 
to you.” 

The other Bunnies crowded round for 
their good night kiss and Aunt Etiquette 
said to them all, 

“To-morrow, if we chance to meet. 

I’ll teach you manners on the street.” 


POLITE BUNNY 


83 


Pretty Bunny went to sleep, singing, 

“There’s something in my heart that 
sings. 

We can show good manners in little 
things; 

We should be polite and never bold. 
And always do what we are told.” 


CHAPTER VIL 


STREET MANNERS. 

If every Bunny that we meet 
Had good manners on the street, 

What a pleasant world 'twould be 
For other folks like you and me. 

Next morning early, Aunt Etiquette 
called, 

“Come, Bunnies, I’ll give you all a treat. 
We’ll take a walk upon the street.” 

All the Bunnies, except Pretty Bunny, 
were ready soon and in their hurry they 
slid down the banisters. Pretty Bunny 
stopped to put her room in order. This 
took her so long the other Bunnies had 
started on their way when she was 
ready. 

As hor little feet went “pitter, patter” 
down the stairs she heard another “pitter, 
patter” behind her. She turned, but saw 
no one. She ran out doors and none of 
the Bunnies were in sight. She stood 


84 


POLITE BUNNY 


85 



by the side of the house and called, “Boo- 
Hoo.” A voice answered, “Boo-Hoo.” 

Pretty Bunny cried excitedly, “Who 
are you?” and the voice repeated, “Who 
are you?” 

Pretty Bunny said, “Are you the Bunny 
who goes pitter, patter on the stairs?” 
The voice answered, “On the stairs.” 

Suddenly Pretty Bunny sat down and 
laughed until she cried, and then she 
said, 

“Some things are surely very funny; 

I think you are the Echo Bunny.” 

The voice replied, “Echo Bunny.” 


86 


POLITE BUNNY 



Pretty Bunny said, “Good bye,” and 
Echo Bunny, (for it was really he,) 
answered, “Good bye.” 


At this very minute Healthy Bunny 
came back and said Aunt Etiquette had 
just found out that Pretty Bunny had 
been left behind. 

Healthy Bunny and Pretty Bunny 
bumped into several people on the walk 
until Pretty Bunny remarked, 

“A little Bunny who is bright 
Will always turn out to the right.” 


POLITE BUNNY 


87 


They noticed then that people turned 
to the right and teams turned to the 
right also. 

By this time they had caught up 
with the others and noticed Aunt Eti- 
quette bowing politely to people she met. 

She said, 

“How many Bunnies noticed that? 

How many Bunnies raised their hat?” 

She said gentlemen always raised their 
hats when a lady they were walking with 
spoke to any one. 

Heedless Bunny tried to attract the 
attention of a Bunny across the street 
and Aunt Etiquette said, 

“Speak when any one you meet. 

But please don’t shout across the street.” 

Homeless Bunny said, “Should we al- 
ways wait for an older person to speak to 
us?” 

Aunt Etiquette replied, 

“You may learn street manners now; 
To an older person first you’ll bow.” 


88 


POLITE BUNNY 


She said a young person may recognize 
an older person first, and that it is right 
to always be ready to speak to a person 
you know. 

“Where are we going to-day, Aunt 
Etiquette?” asked Healthy Bunny. 

Happy Bunny shouted, “'Where? 
where?” and they soon had a crowd a- 
round them, they made so much noise. 
"When the crowd found there was nothing 
the matter they went on their way. 

Aunt Etiquette looked quite severe 
and said, 

“How many times must I repeat; 

Don’t attract attention on the street.” 

The Bunnies looked quite ashamed 
and Pretty Bunny said very politely, in 
a low voice, “Please tell us where we are 
going. Aunt Etiquette.” 

Aunt Etiquette answered, 

“To the library to get a book; 

We will seek a cozy nook.” 

At this. Heedless Bunny said, “Oh, no, 
please take us to the Park.” 


POLITE BUNNY 


89 


Homeless Bunny said, “Please take us 
to the restaurant.” 

Happy Bunny said, “We can have a 
good time most any place, but we have 
to keep still in a library.” 

There were so many of them Aunt 
Etiquette had to say every little while, 

“Step behind another, lad and lass. 

Step behind to let another pass.” 

Heedless Bunny began to whistle and 
sing, and the first thing the rest knew he 
had gone off down a cross street. 

Homeless Bunny did not learn good 
manners easily so he stopped to talk to 
a person on a street corner. 

Happy Bunny took hold of Healthy 
Bunny, but they took too much room that 
way walking on the sidewalk, so Aunt 
Etiquette remarked, 

“Happy Bunny, you mean no harm. 

On the street don’t take another’s arm; 
To properly walk, please don’t forget. 
Is part of good street Etiquette; 

Walk straight ahead, and I suppose 
You learned long ago to turn out your 
toes.” 


90 


POLITE BUNNY 



Happy Bunny and Pretty Bunny looked 
down to see if they were really turning 
out their toes. They told Aunt Etiquette 
that sometimes at home they practised 
walking straight and tried to stand so 
erect that they could walk about carry- 
ing a book on their heads without letting 
it drop. 


POLITE BUNNY 


91 


They met some Bunnies who were 
dressed gayly and by dress and manner 
tried really to attract attention. 

Aunt Etiquette said, “Need I mention? 
We should never try to attract attention.” 

She continued, 

“I am truly glad to see 
That you keep step with me.” 

Sure enough, they were all keeping 
step. 

Happy Bunny turned to look after a 
group of Bunnies they had passed and 
Aunt Etiquette said, 

“Don’t turn to look back at those you 
meet; 

Please observe good manners on the 
street; 

And a youngster may be in danger. 

If he speaks to a beggar or stranger.” 

By the time they had come to the li- 
brary Happy Bunny began to ask ques- 
tions. “What book are you looking for. 
Aunt Etiquette?” 


92 


POLITE BUNNY 


She smiled and answered. “I am look- 
ing for a book of Home-Made Fairy 
Tales.” 

Pretty Bunny said, “Hurrah, hurrah.” 

Aunt Etiquette said, “If you really 
want to learn good manners you will do 
some thinking. In a library people are 
reading. 

Though it is not quite like school. 

Be very still — observe this rule.” 

Aunt Etiquette got the book she want- 
ed and they started homeward. 

Happy Bunny went off by himself but 
Healthy Bunny and Pretty Bunny went 
on with Aunt Etiquette. 

She gave the two cunning little Bun- 
nies a surprise. 

She took them into a restaurant and let 
them order ice cream and cake. 

Healthy Bunny was in such a hurry 
to taste his ice cream and Pretty Bunny 
was in such a hurry to taste her cake 
that they began to eat before Aunt Eti- 
quette had put on her gold rimmed spec- 
tacles, and she said quietly, 


POLITE BUNNY 


93 


“To keep good manners at the table, 
Just wait to start ’till all are able.” 

The Bunnies now waited until Aunt 
Etiquette was ready to eat too, and they 
said they were glad to learn so many 
little things in a pleasant way. 

When they arrived home at last. Pretty 
Bunny drew a picture of a side walk and 
wrote below it every rule of street man- 
ners she could remember. 

Healthy Bunny made a little song and 
sang it to the tune of “Twinkle Little 
Star.” 

“When you’re walking on the street. 

Be polite to all you meet; 

When you’re grown you’ll not regret 
That you learned street Etiquette.” 

Late that night Pretty Bunny told 
Healthy Bunny about hearing Echo 
Bunny speak. 

She said, “I wonder if he cares 
That I hear him patter on the stairs.” 

Healthy Bunny did not answer; he was 
already asleep. 


CHAPTER VIII. 

AN ON TIME TALE. 

To be on time if you often fail. 

You had better read this On-time Tale; 
If you would be a well trained Rabbit, 
To be on time please form the habit. 

Next day Aunt Etiquette called, 

“Come, be on time at the table; 

To be prompt you are able.” 

Then, Pretty Bunny and Healthy 
Bunny knew that breakfast was ready, 
and they went hoppety-skip down stairs. 

Healthy Bunny did many useful things 
for Old Aunt Etiquette. He helped her 
put her house in order and Pretty Bunny 
washed her dishes, but, sad to say, they 
were so slow about the work that Pretty 
Bunny was late to school. That evening 
she had to stay in school to make up the 
time she had missed, and as Healthy 
Bunny was visiting school he had to wait 
for her. 


94 


POLITE BUNNY 


95 



When evening- came Old Aunt Etiquette 
put on her best spectacles and said, 

“Who was late, tell me pray? 

Who was right on time to-day?” 

Pretty Bunny said, 

“To be late to school Fll not form the 
habit; 

I was a careless, forgetful Rabbit.” 


96 


POLITE BUNNY 


Healthy Bunny said, “I am to blame 
too, I suppose. I should have run to the 
store to get your laundry soap long be- 
fore time for the store to close. 

Both the Bunnies begged Aunt Etiqu- 
ette to tell a story and she said, “I will 
read you a story from the book I got at 
the library yesterday. So she began to 
read “An On-Time Tale.” 

“Once upon a time Tardy Ted talked 
to his father one evening, and his father 
remarked, 

“You are late to breakfast, and supper 
and dinner; 

I know you don’t mean to be a great 
sinner; 

You are willing to learn if you know 
the way; 

To what else were you late to-day?” 

Tardy Ted loved to talk to his father. 

Tardy Ted hung his head. 

To his father this he said, 



The;9 Had Ice Cream and Cake 



POLITE BUNNY 


97 



“I want to be on time as a rule, 

But father, I was late to school.” 

His father replied, 

“If every one in the world was late. 

For hours and hours we’d have to wait, 
Of the Whistling' Wind I’ll ask advice. 
And he may help us in a trice,” 

The Whistling Wind had a word soon 
with Ted’s father, and he whispered to 
many people that Ted was to visit next 
day. 



98 


POLITE BUNNY 


Tardy Ted was late to bed, 

The Whistling Wind went on ahead. 

The next day was Saturday and Tardy 
Ted went to the Tailor to see if he had 
repaired his best suit and put buttons 
on it. The Tailor said, as though it was 
a matter of no moment, 

“Alas, young man. I’m a little late; 

I really think you’ll have to wait.” 

Then Tardy Ted went to the Shoe- 
maker who was mending his best shoes, 
and the Shoemaker said, 

“Alas, young man. I’m a little late; 

I really think you’ll have to wait.” 

Then he went to the store at the last 
minute to buy a new neck tie, and as it 
was time to close, the clerk said, 

“Alas, young man. I’m a little late; 

I really think you’ll have to wait.” 

Tardy Ted went home looking very 
serious for next day he had a special 
piece to speak in Sunday School, and he 
could hardly bear the thought of wear- 
ing an old suit, and old shoes, and old 
neck tie. 


POLITE BUNNY 


99 



Father said, “Too bad, too bad.” He 
did not add that he had spoken to the 
Whistling Wind about Tardy Ted’s hab- 
it of being late. He did not say he had 
asked the Whistling Wind to drop a word 
to the Tailor, and Shoemaker, and Clerk, 
to teach Tardy Ted a lesson. 

Tardy Ted went out all by himself into 
the woods and began to think how up- 
setting it would be if everybody was late 
everywhere with work. 


100 


POLITE BUNNY 


It was at this very minute that he 
heard the Fairy Shoemaker singing, 

“A rat-a-tat, tat, a rat-a-tat, too, 

I mend shoes and make them good as 
new.” 

Tardy Ted looked all round but he 
could not find the Fairy Shoemaker, but 
he recited his troubles any way. 

The Fairy Shoemaker said, 

“A rat-a-tat, tat, a rat-a-tat, too, 

I could sew on a few buttons for you.” 

Then Tardy Ted said, ‘T still have no 
neck tie to wear, for my old one is in 
shreds. How is it you are willing to 
take so much trouble for me?” 

The Fairy Shoemaker replied, 

“A rat-a-tat, tat, you’re a little lad. 

Not always good, and not always bad. 
The Fairy Shoemaker takes a turn. 

As to be on time you wish to learn.” 

Then the most surprising thing hap- 
pened! 


POLITE BUNNY 


101 



Tardy Ted looked down at his feet and 
saw the cutest little watch that sang, 

“I can make up a song and rhyme, 

I can help you to be on time,” 

Tardy Ted could find no owner for the 
watch so he put it in his pocket and from 
that moment everything went well. 

He got home in time for supper, and 


102 


POLITE BUNNY 


there was his coat with the buttons upon 
it. There were his shoes all mended 
and Father laid down a mysterious pack- 
age on the table. 

In it was a neck tie of bright red, 

The very thing for Tardy Ted. 

He was happy as happy could be, and 
next day spoke his piece well. He decided 
that the little watch was a magic watch. 

He said, “You set my heart a-flutter, 

I will hurry or be late to supper; 

When you tick, tick, Fm always able 
To be on time and sit at table; 

You keep on ticking as a rule, 

I will be on time to school; 

To Tardy Ted I know you’ve said 
‘Time to get up and time for bed.’ 

I know some rhymes but hardly half 
Of those you say— ‘It’s time to laugh.’ 

I will set you now an hour ahead. 

So I’ll lose the name of Tardy Ted.” 

From that hour Tardy Ted surprised 
every one by being on time, and some- 
times he was really a little ahead of 
time. 


POLITE BUNNY 


103 


His name was changed to ‘Teddy On 
Time/ 

And Re often made up a song and rhyme; 
So now he is known in every clime 
As the dear little, queer little ‘Teddy On 
Time’/’ 

“What became of the Fairy Shoe- 
maker?” asked Pretty Bunny. 

“What became of Teddy On Time?” 
asked Healthy Bunny. 

Aunt Etiquette’s head went nid-nid 
nodding and she fell asleep. 

Pretty Bunny saw by the clock it was 
quarter of eight and she whispered to 
Healthy Bunny, 

“Don’t you know what the story said? 
Let’s hurry or we’ll be late to bed.” 

The Family Clock remarked, 

“I could hear that whisper round the 
block. 

Tick tick, tock, tick tick, tock.” 

Those two little Bunnies went pitter, 
patter, up stairs. 


104 


POLITE BUNNY 


Healthy Bunny looked under the pil- 
low and what do you suppose he saw? 
There were two, shining silver watches. 
On the back of each was written, 

“Tick, tick, tock, hear me chime, 

‘Be on time, be on time’; 

Your manners please do not forget; 

Be sure to thank Aunt Etiquette.” 

Both Bunnies went to sleep dreaming 
of the Fairy Shoemaker. 


CHAPTER IX. 


A PICK— IT— UP TALE. 


To pick up things please don’t forget; 
I’ve one more thing to tell you yet: 

To pick up things you’ll form the habit, 
If you are a well-mannered Rabbit. 

•One morning Aunt Etiquette came 
down stairs and found everj^hing in the 
living room in disorder. Healthy Bunny 
had thrown the newspapers on the floor 
the night before, and Pretty Bunny h^ 
left faded flowers in a vase. 

Healthy Bunny had been on the sofa 
and the pillows were all upset. 

Even the chairs in the room looked 
awkward, for they were not in their usual 
places. 

A few crumbs were also on the floor for 


105 


106 


POLITE BUNNY 


Pretty Bunny had been careless while 
eating a cookie, so Aunt Etiquette sat 
down in a willow rocker and sighed and 
sighed. 

When the Bunnies came down stairs 
they said, “What is the matter, Aunt Eti- 
quette?” 


She must have waved a wand or said 
a magic verse for the newspaper said in 
a crisp voice, 

“I often made the remark before, 

‘I don’t BELONG upon the floor’.” 

Healthy Bunny picked up the news- 
paper in the twinkling of an eye, and the 
faded flowers said, 

“Don’t leave faded flowers around. 

No telling by whom they’ll be found.” 

Pretty Bunny threw the flowers out 
and washed the vase neatly, then the pil- 
lows on the old couch said, 

“Pick us up before you go to bed.” 

The Bunnies gave them a great 
straightening andi the furniture began 
to sigh. 


POLITE BUNNY 


107 



“Chairs in the corners, chairs in a row, 
In the proper place each chair should 


My, how easily the chairs were put 
where they belonged and the Bunnies 


108 


POLITE BUNNY 


then discovered the crumbs on the floor 
and used a carpet sweeper, before an- 
other word could be said. Then Aunt Eti- 
quette smiled but said, “We are so late 
I will let you help get breakfast and then 
I will read you a real ‘Pick-Up Story’.” 

After breakfast Aunt Etiquette began 
the story of “Polly Pick-It-Up.” 

She began, 

“Once upon a time Polly wanted to 
go on a visit.” 

“Was it a Polly Rabbit or a Polly 
Parrot?” asked Pretty Bunny. 

Healthy Bunny said, “Was she going to 
make you a visit. Aunt Etiquette?” 

It was some time before Aunt Eti- 
quette began her story again and the 
Family Clock sang, 

“Tick, tick tock, I am right. 

To interrupt is not polite.” 

Aunt Etiquette began once more, 

“Once upon a time Polly wanted to go 
on a visit and she asked mother who re- 
plied. 


POLITE BUNNY 


109 



‘Ask the old Family Clock, 

Who always sings ‘Tick, tock’.” 

At this point in the story Aunt Eti- 


110 


POLITE BUNNY 


quette’s Family Clock pricked up its ears 
to listen, 

‘Tolly said politely to the clock, “May 
I go on a visit to-day?” 

The Family Clock replied, 

“The Family Clock would not mind. 

If you’d use my key to wind.” 

Polly took the hint and wound up the 
Clock who continued, 

“Do look at the full Waste Basket, 

Stop a minute, please, and ask it,” 

So, Polly asked the Waste Basket, 
“May I go on a visit to-day?” The bas- 
ket replied, 

“To anything I will agree. 

If you’ll stop and empty me.” 

Polly thought that a very broad hint, 
so she emptied the basket and a new 
voice piped up, 

“Who will pick up the centre table? 
Polly dear, I think you’re able.” 


POLITE BUNNY 


111 


Polly began to straighten the books 
and put the magazines in even piles and 
put away the candy box. She picked up 
for herself and all the family, and she 
heard a voice say, 

“A duster makes old things just shine; 
Polly Pick-It-Up, that is fine.” 

So it went on all day long, everything 
called to Polly to pick it up, and at even- 
ing mother said, “I don’t see how I could 
keep house without Polly Pick-It-Up. It 
is such a comfort to come in and find the 
living room in order.” 

Father said, 

“She shall have her visit, never fear. 
Uncle Education is almost here.” 

At that very minute there was heard 
the gallop of horses’ feet, and in less time 
than it takes to tell it. Uncle Education 
stood in the door-way, saying, 

“I have just a minute to stay; 

Will some one ride with me to-day?” 

Every one wanted to ride with Uncle 


112 


POLITE BUNNY 



Education, of course, as he was on horse 
back, but mother settled the matter by 
saying, 

“Polly Pick-It-Up should go. 

She is the most helpful child I know; 
She winds the Clocks and sets them right. 
She picks up morning, noon and night. 
She emptied out the old Waste Basket 
Almost before it had time to ask it; 

She tidies up the table too. 

As you and I could also do. 

And then she says, “I really must 
Stop a while and dust and dust. 


POLITE BUNNY 


113 


Polly Pick-It-Up has pluck, 

So she deserves to have Good Luck.” 

Polly Pick-It-Up was soon seated on 
the old horse’s back in front of Uncle 
Education and they went trotting, trot- 
ting along.” 

At this very minute in the reading of 
the story Aunt Etiquette sat still. 

Pretty Bunny put her paw up to her 
ear to listen. 

Healthy Bunny cried, “Hurrah, hurrah, 
hurrah, I hear the “click, click, click,” of 
horses’ feet, and they sound as though 
they were coming nearer every minute.” 

Sure enough, a horse was coming down 
the road, and, sure enough, it stopped, 
and in a few minutes a Bunny was rap- 
ping, tapping on the door. He carried 
a very sleepy Bunny and he bowed low 
and said, 

“Fm starting on a short vacation; 

My name is Uncle Education,” 


Polly Pick-It-Up, you see. 


114 


POLITE BUNNY 



Naturally came along with me; 

I am tired beyond a doubt, 

For I teach year in, year out; 

Long ago I think we met, 

I hope you’re well. Aunt Etiquette.” 

Pretty Bunny and Healthy Bunny 
stood with their mouths open, for it was 
such a wonderful ending to a story. 
Polly Pick-It-Up made a bow and said, 

“Aunt Etiquette, ’tis thus I greet you, 

I am very glad to meet you.” 


POLITE BUNNY 


115 


Then, there was a great introducing 
all around, and the little Bunnies went out 
to play. To their surprise another Bunny 
greeted them and said, 

“I often sing a little rhyme, 

I am your friend, Teddy On Time.” 

Then Pretty Bunny and Healthy 
Bunny cried, 

“How do you do? How do you do? 

The ’stories in that book are true; 

Polly Pick-It-Up and Teddy On Time, 
You are well known in every clime.” 

Those four cute little Bunnies played 
ball until it was time for dinner. 


CHAPTER X. 


COMPANY MANNERS 


“Company manners you’ll not regret, 

If you learn to behave,” said Aunt Eti- 
quette; 

“At home if you have good manners, you 
see. 

You’ll also behave well in company.” 

After dinner Uncle Education began 
to talk, 

“To promote good health is my voca- 
tion, 

I’m busy,” said Uncle Education; 

“Good English, too, now as a rule, 

I teach at home, abroad, in school; 

The hours pass on, I must be swift. 

I’ve many lessons to teach in thrift.” 

The Bunnies whispered a little among 
themselves, for Uncle Education used 
so many big words they could not under- 


116 


POLITE BUNNY 


117 



stand all he said. Aunt Etiquette 
spoke quietly to Polly Pick-It-Up, who 
whispered more than the rest. She said, 

“When we are in company, 

We should listen respectfully.” 

Just then Teddy On Time left the 
room without asking- to be excused, and 
he slammed the door after him. 

Uncle Education then said, 

“There’s something often to me sings. 
We should have manners in little 
things; 

I’ve often said this thing before. 

We can learn to quietly close a door.” 




118 


POLITE BWJNY 



When Teddy On Time came back he 
walked in front of Uncle Education who 
remarked quietly, 

“Say ‘EXCUSE ME’, lad or lass. 

When in front you have to pass.” 

Polly Pick-It-Up was very bright and 
she said, 

“I can teach one lesson soon. 

Rise when any one enters the room.” 


POLITE BUNNY 


119 



Uncle Education said if we practise 
good manners every day we will not 
need to think about manners particu- 
larly when visitors come. We will just 
naturally be polite and have good man- 
ners always. 

At this very minute the postman 
brought two letters. 

One was for Uncle Education saying he 
was needed at once in school, and the 
other was from Old Mother Bun saying 
that Father Bun would call next day 
for Pretty Bunny and Healthy Bunny, 
for Healthy Bunny had stayed on as 
Aunt Etiquette had politely asked him 
to. 


120 


POLITE BUNNY 


Pretty Bunny sat down and cried out, 

“I can’t wear a clean dress, I haven’t 
another; 

I never told my misfortune to mother; 
Will Bunny Brag never, never come 
With my lost suit-case to take home?” 

No one answered this for, of course, 
no one knew where Bunny Brag was. 

Uncle Education shook hands with all 
his friends and said if he chanced to 
meet Bunny Brag he would direct him 
to Aunt Etiquette’s house. He said to 
Aunt Etiquette, 

“I think you are a near relation; 

Good bye, says Uncle Education.” 

Aunt Etiquette bade him good bye; 
then Polly Pick-It-Up said, 

“I, too, must travel on my way; 

I thank you for a pleasant stay.” 

Teddy On Time said, 

“I’ve learned some things I’ll not forget; 
Good bye, dear Old Aunt Etiquette.” 



Here I Am, the Good Luck Bunny 





POLITE BUNNY 


121 


Then Pretty Bunny and Healthy Bun- 
ny and Aunt Etiquette were left to- 
gether, and Pretty Bunny said, “Won’t 
you please read us another story. Aunt 
Etiquette?” 

Aunt Etiquette said, “I will read you 
a short story about “The Good Luck 
Bunny.” 

“Once upon a time there was a Good 
Luck Bunny. She got up every morning 
with a smiling face and was polite to 
every one. 

She always said she had better 
Answer every single letter; 

She travelled over and over again, 
And had good manners on the train; 
She always kept her bed-room neat, 

To enter it was quite a treat; 

At the table, at home, in school. 
Politeness was to her the rule. 

She met you with a smile quite sweet. 
And had good manners on the street. 
And though we thought her name was 
funny. 

We always called her “Good Luck 
Bunny.” 


122 


POLITE BUNNY 



One day Good Luck Bunny stubbed 
her toe and fell. She got up quickly 
saying, 

“I will be brave, ’twill bring me luck, 

And that’s another name for PLUCK.” 

As she did not cry a bit her eyes were 
bright and she looked down and saw 
she had stubbed her toe on a bright, 
shining dollar, so she had money enough 
to take a trip.” 

At this very minute in the reading 
of the story, Healthy Bunny’s eyes grew 
as big as tea-cups, and Pretty Bunny’s 


POLITE BUNNY 


123 


eyes grew as big as saucers, for they 
all heard some one singing distinctly, 
‘Ha, ha, ha, it is so funny, 

I am here, the Good Luck Bunny’.” 

As the story ended, there stood the 
Good Luck Bunny on the door step. She 
brought good luck to every one where- 
ever she went, so they were delighted to 
see her. 

Next came Old Father and Mother 
Bun together. 

Said Old Mother Bun, 

“I wish to thank Aunt Etiquette 
For care of Pretty Bunny; 

To-day I brought Aunt Etiquette 
A little pot of honey.” 

At this very minute Old Mother Bun 
looked at Pretty Bunny’s soiled dress. 
She said, 

“Pretty Bunny, right now, I guess. 

You had better go and change your 
dress. 

Pretty Bunny started up stairs. When 


124 


POLITE BUNNY 


she got to the top step of the stair-case, 
she did not know what to do, for, of 
course, she had no clean dress to put on. 

There were only Bunny Boy’s clothes 
in the suit-case. 

The Good Luck Bunny followed her 
and whispered, 

“Now please don’t cry, have a little 
pluck. 

I’ve really come to bring Good Luck.” 

She slipped a little key round Pretty 
Bunny’s neck and scampered down stairs. 

At that minute Pretty Bunny got up 
and went into her room. She looked out 
the window and what should she see but 
Bunny Brag coming that way with the 
long lost suit-case. 

The Good Luck Bunny had given her 
the key. 

Pretty Bunny ran out the back door 
and met him and they were glad, indeed, 
to exchange suit-cases. He could not 
help bragging a little so he said, 

“My clothes are better any way 


POLITE BUNNY 


126 


Than yours, so I will say good day.” 
Off he went. 

Back into the house crept Pretty 
Bunny and put on a fresh dress and 
sun-bonnet, and to this day Old Mother 
Bun does not know why Pretty Bunny 
was so long changing her dress. 

At last the time came to say Good 
bye, and the visitors got in the buggy 
and started off, when Pretty Bunny said, 

“Oh, Mother Bun, I must go back, I for- 
got something.” 

So they stopped and let Pretty Bunny 
go back. 

She ran up to the mirror and cried, 

“I almost forgot you, that was funny. 
Good bye, good bye, Looking-Glass 
Bunny.” 

She smiled and the Looking-Glass 
Bunny smiled back saying, 

“Whenever you want me I will come 
To your own mirror, now at home.” 

Next, Pretty Bunny kissed Aunt Eti- 
quette on both cheeks, saying. 


126 


POLITE BUNNY 



“I’ve had a good time, I’ll not forget 
Lessons I learned from Aunt Etiquette.” 

Next she peeped into her bed-room 
and a voice greeted her, 

“I’m Bed-Room Bunny, I’m glad you’ve 
come; 

I will meet you really again at home.” 

Pretty Bunny shouted, 

“I am so happy, I can’t tell why, 
Bed-Room Bunny, good bye, good bye.” 

Next she ran out, and turning, called 
to Shadow Bunny, 

“I love you better than shining money. 


POLITE BUNNY 


127 


Good bye, good bye, dear Shadow 
Bunny.” 

The Shadow Bunny replied, 

‘T make friends with every one. 

But most of all with the shining sun.” 

Then Pretty Bunny called, 

“Echo Bunny why, oh why, oh why. 

Do I not find you? Good bye, good bye.” 

Echo Bunny did not appear but called, 
“Good bye.” 

Pretty Bunny climbed into the buggy 
and they rode merrily homeward. 

The very first question Old Father 
Bun asked when they got home and sat 
round the fire was, 

“Will some one tell me now who dares. 
Who went ‘pitter, patter’ on the stairs?” 

Old Mother Bun took up Jier work 
basket 

And said, “My dear, I forgot to ask it.” 

Healthy Bunny said, “I regret 
I never asked Aunt Etiquette.” 

PRETTY BUNNY SAID, WITH A 
LAUGH SO FUNNY, 

“I THINK IT WAS THE ECHO BUNNY.” 
















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